http://www.contracostatimes.com/...
A local paper interviewed Rep Pete Stark (Fremont,CA) about health care reform and his thoughts on town hall meetings. Rep Stark is quite honest and straightforward about his views. He refuses to 'start high' but rather says what he will do. Some may find this upsetting, but I think it's refreshing and noble.
When he's asked whether he personally would vote for a bill without a public option, he stated
I have said publicly and I would repeat that I probably, when all the negotiations are done, am not going to like the bill that we finally vote out of the House — it ain't going to be the bill I wrote.
But if I can have an interview with you after we pass it and I can guarantee that 95 to 97 percent of people will have insurance within
five years, I can't vote against that. I think it would be far better with a public plan.
This may make some people angry, but as someone who knows people who right now can't get any kind of insurance due to pre-existing conditions, I respect him and his understanding about what is important behind health care reform.